big brother

noun

1

: an older brother

2

: a man who serves as a companion, father figure, and role model for a boy

3

Big Brother [Big Brother, personification of the power of the state in 1984 (1949) by George Orwell]

a

: the leader of an authoritarian state or movement

b

: an all-powerful government or organization monitoring and directing people's actions

Examples of big brother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The other two photos show Adelaide with her big brothers, August Philip Hawke, 5, and Ernest George Ronnie, 3. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

The two bulldogs quickly became friends, and Drake says Griff II now serves as Gus’ mentor and big brother. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Of course, if Bailen ever drops a pass, big brother might give him a nasty look. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

The new addition joins big brothers Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big brother

• another
• godmother
• grandmother
• stepbrother
• stepmother
• mother
• nother
• other
• smother
• souther